Comprehensive Examination of mechanical and diffusional effects on cell behavior using a decoupled 3D hydrogel system

Abstract

Despite recent advances in hydrogel systems for cell culture, it is still challenge to independently control the mechanical and diffusional properties of hydrogels, both of which are well known to influence various cell behaviors when using hydrogels as 3D cell culture systems and are inversely correlated. In this study, polymeric crosslinker is introduced to change mechanical properties in a wide range without changing polymer concentration by adjusting degree of substitution of reactive functional groups. Furthermore, their diffusional properties, as characterized by their swelling ratios, pore diameters, and drug release rates are not significantly affected by the change in the degree of substitution. 3D cell studies using this hydrogel system successfully demonstrate the varying effects of mechanical properties on different cell types, whereas those in a conventional hydrogel systme are more significantly influenced by changes in diffusional properties.